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Kim Byung-lip, lead researcher of the Airless Tire Development Team at Hankook Tire, takes a commemorative photo after receiving the Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Commendation at the 61st Invention Day Ceremony on May 19. / Hankook Tire

Hankook Tire & Technology is accelerating its competitiveness in next-generation technologies, driven by recognition for its development of airless tires, a pivotal component for future mobility.

The company announced on May 20 that it received the Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Commendation at the 61st Invention Day ceremony held at Coex Magok in Gangseo District, Seoul, on May 19. The award acknowledges the company's achievements in airless tire technology development and patent research.

Invention Day is a national commemorative day established to honor the invention of the cheogu-gi, the world’s first rain gauge. Hosted by the Korean Intellectual Property Office and organized by the Korea Invention Promotion Association, the annual event rewards individuals and enterprises that have contributed to securing core technologies and boosting industrial competitiveness.

The accolade highlights Hankook Tire's sustained focus on securing essential future mobility technologies and strengthening its intellectual property portfolio. Through continuous research and development alongside patent acquisitions in airless tire technology, the company has expanded its application into advanced mobility sectors including defense, firefighting, autonomous driving, and aerospace.

Notably, the company incorporated a "double arch structure" into its airless tires for defense and firefighting robots. This design enhances shock distribution and load-bearing performance, delivering stable driving capabilities and high durability. Hankook Tire also developed the world’s first side-enclosed airless tire technology, which reduces aerodynamic resistance, improves ride comfort, and extends the technology’s application to high-speed autonomous driving environments.

Furthermore, the company is spearheading technological expansion into space and aerospace mobility. By utilizing special alloys and high-performance composite materials in lightweight wheel structural designs, Hankook Tire is securing next-generation capabilities that can withstand extreme environmental conditions.

Industry observers anticipate that airless tires will see growing adoption across future mobility sectors, such as robotics, autonomous driving, defense, and the space industry, due to their immunity to punctures and low maintenance requirements.

Moving forward, Hankook Tire plans to scale up its development of core future mobility technologies, leveraging its headquarters "Technoplex," the high-tech R&D center "Hankook Technodome," and the tire test track "Hankook Technoring."